AT-home care company Home Instead Senior Care created a reverse Advent Calendar this festive season to give gifts to the homeless in Stourbridge and the surrounding areas this Christmas.

Care at Home Instead has been providing gifts such as warm clothing, food and toiletries since December 1, in an initiative to encourage giving rather than receiving during the festive period.

The initiative was the brain child of Home Instead caregiver Vi Wood, aged 56, from Stourbridge.

After her husband passed away, Vi and her family came close to losing their home and were faced with becoming homeless.

Vi decided to take action and set up a charity in her husband’s name, Leslie’s Care Packages for the Homeless, and vowed to help the community’s homeless.

She said: “Becoming homeless isn’t a choice and it can happen to anyone at any time. Homeless people are from all walks of life and each individual can be homeless through a variety of reasons including, mental health issues, abuse, loss of family or job or the breakdown of a marriage or partnership.

“I am so grateful for all the support the team at Home Instead has given to me and to the charity, their generosity will go a long way.”

Lorna Bath, owner of Home Instead, said the office had been “bursting at the seams” with donations for the homeless as a result of the initiative and she added: “We are very proud of Vi for not only the amazing care she provides to her clients but also for all of her work for the homeless.

“She has inspired our team of caregivers who have shown their compassion through their generosity.”